FedEx Office Survey:Small Businesses Anticipate a Happy
Holiday

Small Business Retailers Expect to See Increase in Sales this Holiday
Season

November 13, 2012 01:44 PM Eastern Time

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Small business retailers are anticipating a happy holiday with ringing
cash registers, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by FedEx
Office®. Four in 10 small business owners (43 percent)
expect to see higher revenues this holiday compared to last, while 66
percent say they are hopeful about the upcoming holiday shopping season.

“FedEx Office is committed to offering stress-free solutions to help
small businesses succeed during this critical sales period”

Despite the overall optimism, small businesses are still concerned about
the economy (63 percent), as well as attracting new customers (58
percent) and competing against big retailers (45 percent). Small
business retailers plan to highlight discounts and promote themselves
with quality signage and marketing to help address these concerns. In
fact, 45 percent of small business retailers agree that their marketing
and promotional activities increase during the holiday season.

Along with the seasonal increase in customer traffic comes a spike in
pressure on small businesses, with one-third of those surveyed saying
they feel stressed about the upcoming holiday season. Small business
retailers say that running a business during the holiday season carried
the same or more stress as: finding the perfect gift for your partner
(68 percent), going to the mall during the holiday months (65 percent)
or getting every gift wrapped (60 percent). One surprising finding:
one-quarter (23 percent) of small business retailers report that running
their business during the holidays is less stressful than
spending a week with the in-laws!

“FedEx Office is committed to offering stress-free solutions to help
small businesses succeed during this critical sales period,” said Brian
Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Office. “With products and services
including cloud printing, direct mail, flyers, brochures, posters and
banners, small businesses can create sales and marketing materials
professionally and easily.”

FedEx Office serves as that trusted partner for countless small
businesses during the holidays and all year round. The company offers a
wide variety of signage and marketing materials to give small businesses
exactly what they need this season—eye-catching signage to bring in
customers looking for just the right holiday item. In a survey
of general consumers conducted earlier this year for FedEx Office,
shoppers reported that almost eight in 10 (76 percent) had entered a
store they have never visited before based on its signs, and nearly
seven in 10 (68 percent) had actually purchased a product or service
because a sign caught their eye.

With the world’s largest digitally-connected network of wide-format
print equipment, FedEx Office can print a range of marketing materials
from indoor/outdoor banners to posters to corrugated/PVC plastic and
metal signs. FedEx Office team members are experts when it comes to
these materials and small business owners can speak directly with them
to determine the best signage solution for their business.

To further support the needs of small business owners, FedEx Office is
once again collaborating with small business experts Anita Campbell (@smallbiztrends)
and Melinda Emerson (@smallbizlady)
for a tweet chat series offering advice for the small business
community. Kicking off on November 14 at 8 p.m. ET, the first chat will
cover what businesses can do right now to prepare for the holidays.
Follow @FedExOffice
throughout the year for upcoming dates and topics.

Survey Methodology

FedEx Office, in conjunction with Ketchum Global Research & Analytics,
worked with Braun Research to conduct a telephone omnibus survey of 500
small business owners who employ 5 to 99 employees, generate over
$100,000 in annual revenue, and whose primary industry is retail
(stores/outlets).The margin of error is +/- 4.4%, and results are
reported at the 95 percent confidence level.

About FedEx Office

FedEx Office, an operating company of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), has more
than 1,800 stores and locations primarily in the U.S. and Canada,
providing convenient access to printing and shipping expertise with
reliable service. The company’s network features retail stores,
centralized production centers, corporate on-site print centers, and
on-site business centers at hotels, convention centers and universities.
Services include copying and digital printing, professional finishing,
document creation, direct mail, signs and graphics, computer rental,
free Wi-Fi and corporate print solutions. In addition, the company
offers FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, Hold at FedEx Location,
and packing services backed by the FedEx® Packing Pledge.
InformationWeek 500 recognized FedEx Office® Print Online and
FedEx Office® Print & Go solutions with the 2011 Most
Innovative Products award. Products, services and hours vary by
location. For more information, please visit www.fedex.com/office.

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